Core exerciser

ABSTRACT

A core strengthening exercise device comprised of a tubular frame with uniquely angled handles and a spring member to provide the necessary resistance for an effective and comfortable workout of the core muscles of the abdomen and the pelvic floor through a thrusting linear and targeted motion. The core exerciser can be easily disassembled for storage and transport and assembled when needed to exercise and strengthen the core muscles.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/636,078 which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to exercise machines anddevices. More particularly, the invention relates to an exercise devicethat is specifically configured to help strengthen the core muscles ofthe human body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Exercise machines such as, treadmills, cross trainers and others to aidin burning calories and strengthening the general musculature of thebody are well known in the art. Prior art is also replete with machinesand devices to strengthen specific muscle groups in the arms, legs andchest, popularly known as pushup exercises. U.S. Pat. No. 7,909,746 toGant and U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,943 to Hsiung are two examples of prior artdevices specifically made for performing pushup exercises.

The interest in strengthening the core muscles of the body is a morerecent phenomenon. The core muscles in the human body comprise not onlythe abdominal and back muscles, but also the muscles in the pelvic area,hips and the spine. These muscles are responsible for stabilizing,aligning and strengthening the torso and providing flexibility to theextremities. Therefore, maintaining core strength is critical for eventhe mundane day to day physical activities such as walking or doingchores. A weak core also contributes to poor posture, lower back painand other debilitating conditions.

The heightened interest in developing and strengthening the core musclesis related in part to evidence that an undeveloped core has a greaterpredisposition to injury. To address the importance of strengthening thecore muscles, various machines and devices both stationary and portablehave emerged in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 8,360,942 to Goel et al.describes a core muscle strengthening exercise apparatus for core muscletraining using dynamic therapeutic movement for the chest, back,abdominal and leg musculature to strengthen and condition muscles of theaxial skeleton and lower extremities of a performing user. The apparatusin this patent is a stationary machine with harnesses to engage thetorso and the various extremities. The core strengthening exerciseapparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 8,088,052 to Sprague describes a device witha pair of swing arms pivotally mounted to a C-shaped transverse barmember to be used on the floor to perform various isometric, isotonicand core muscle exercises. U.S. Pat. No. 7,981,016 to Howard iscomprised of two base sections with handles and casters or balltransfers connected to the bottom surface of the base sections to enablemovement over a surface. The apparatus and devices in these patents andothers available in the market involve the need to use movements such asbending, twisting and other angular motions that create unnecessarystress on the various parts of the body including ones that theexercises are targeting to strengthen.

There is a need in the prior art for a core muscle strengthening devicethat uses linear motions unlike the angular, rotational motions requiredin the use of prior art core strengthening machines and devices.Thrusting linearly as opposed to pivoting angularly is a more naturalmotion, in addition to being safe by not creating torque and stress onthe back and other areas of the body. Studies have shown that resistanceexercises that do not impart any forces on the body other than theresistance of the device itself are safer for the user. As a secondarybenefit, the thrusting linear motion is similar to the motion involvedin sexual intercourse. It stands to reason that strengthening the bodyby simulating this linear motion would increase the stamina of themuscles involved in sex. Other devices in the prior art that work on arotational motion principle do not address this issue directly. Thedevice of the present invention uses linear motion to strengthen thecore muscles including the muscles of the pelvic floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a core strengthening exerciser that uses athrusting linear motion to strengthen the core muscles as opposed to arotational, angular motion commonly used in other core strengtheningexercise machines and apparatus in the prior art. The configuration andstructure of the core strengthening exerciser of the present inventiondirects the force of the thrusting motion into the core abdomen area ofthe body, relieving much of the torque on the adjacent parts of the bodyduring exercise. In addition, given that the linear motion is sexual innature leads one to believe that stamina during sexual intercourse canbe enhanced by developing the pelvic floor muscles using the lineartargeted motion generated by the core strengthening device of thepresent invention.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the corestrengthening exerciser is comprised of a tubular frame attached to abase plate. In this embodiment of the invention, each free end of theframe has a handle made of a soft, anti-slip material inserted over thetube-like ends. In this embodiment, the base plate is configured with adrum-shaped tube-like protrusion to hold a spring which provides theresistance for performing the core strengthening exercises. Further inthis embodiment, a rectangular, block-shaped pad made of a soft materialis attached to the top end of the spring to provide cushioning to thebody when it comes in contact with the exerciser.

In this exemplary embodiment of the core exerciser of the presentinvention, the user holds the device by the specially angled handles andplaces it against a wall or other sturdy vertical surface. The user thenplaces their lower abdomen against the soft, rectangular, block-shapedpad and engages in a linear back and forth motion compressing andreleasing the spring member in the process to exercise the core muscles.

In another embodiment of the core exerciser of the present invention,the device is placed on the floor and the user places their abdominalarea on the rectangular, block-shaped soft pad and by holding thehandles the user moves up and down to compress and release the springmember to exercise the core muscles.

In a related embodiment of the core exerciser of the present invention,the device can be used to exercise and strengthen the core muscleswithout the need to place it against the wall or the floor. In thisembodiment, the user can stand or kneel on the floor and holding thedevice securely by the handles, use the arms and hips to compress thespring member to provide the resistance to exercise the core muscles.

In yet another embodiment of the use of the core exerciser of thepresent invention, two partners with separate units of the exerciser attheir disposal can stand facing each other and push and release the baseplates of the respective exercisers against each other to experience thecore strengthening exercise effect.

In this summary of the invention, the various references to, “anexemplary embodiment,” “yet another embodiment,” and relatedembodiment,” do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment (s).Rather, these references to the various embodiments in general mean thata particular feature, structure, or characteristic described inconjunction with an embodiment is included in at least some embodiments,but not necessarily all embodiments of the invention. Although thepresent invention has thus been described with reference to itsexemplary and related embodiments, these embodiments should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of the invention. It is to beunderstood by those skilled in the art, that the invention can beimplemented in embodiments other the ones described in this summary ofthe invention.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become obviousand best understood by a person skilled in the art when viewed inconjunction with the detailed description of the invention accompaniedby the drawings and the claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the back side of the core exerciser ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view from the front side of the coreexerciser of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a left side perspective view of the core exerciser of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the core exerciser of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the core exerciser of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the spring as it relates to thedrum-shaped tube-like structure attached to the base plate of the coreexerciser and showing the two rods positioned inside the drum-shapedstructure.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the core exerciserof the present invention while leaning against a wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a core strengthening exerciser configured todevelop and strengthen the core muscles of the human body, morespecifically the core muscles in and around the front center of the bodyincluding the abdominals, obliques, lower lattisimus dorsi, and rectusabdominus. The core exerciser of the present invention is distinct fromthe prior art in that it uses a thrusting, linear motion during use asopposed to the rotational motion used by prior art core exercisingmachines and devices. The linear motion of the core exerciser of thepresent invention directs the force into the abdomen/core, relieving asignificant amount of torque on adjacent body parts when exercising withthe device. In addition, the linear targeted motion to the pelvic floormuscles can lead to improved stamina during sexual intercourse. Othercore strengthening machines and devices that generate rotational motionduring use do not have a similar pelvic floor core muscle strengtheningeffect. The targeted pelvic floor core muscle strengthening has thepotential to encourage couples to exercise together with their ownindividual core exercisers used in tandem.

Referring now to the figures, more particularly to FIG. 1 a perspectiveview of an exemplary embodiment of the core exerciser 10 is shown whenviewed from the back side of the exerciser. The floor of the coreexerciser 10 is comprised of a rectangular base plate 1 on which ismounted a broad, drum-shaped tube-like structure 5 over which isinserted, one end of a hollow spring 6. In this embodiment, the top endof the spring 6 is attached to a soft cushioning rectangular,block-shaped pad 7 which is placed against the abdomen of the user andis the surface to which the primary force of the body is applied and theresistive force is directed. When the unit is placed against a wall,floor, or similar immobile surface, the user deflects the spring 6 bypressing his or her abdomen against the soft rectangular, block-shapedpad 7 creating resistance when the spring 6 is compressed.

In this embodiment of the core exerciser 10 the frame sections 2 a and 2b and the handles 3 a and 3 b are constructed from a solid material suchas metal tubing, plastic tubing or other similar rigid materials. Thetubing sections are inserted to engage with each other and thusinterconnected to form a contiguous frame body that maintains strengthand integrity without breaking apart while at the same time capable ofbeing disassembled for storage and transport. The handles 3 a and 3 bare uniquely angled to comfortably direct the energy of the user in themost effective manner and aid in strategically positioning the exerciser10 in relation to the abdomen and the arms to provide both a core muscleas well as an arm workout. The frame sections as well as the cushioningrectangular block-shaped pad 7 are secured with the use of screws,bolts, valcos, or pins so that they do not disengage when the exerciser10 is in use. In the exemplary embodiment of the core exerciser 10 ofthe present invention, the handle sections 3 a and 3 b of the coreexerciser 10 are covered with soft tubular covers 4 a and 4 b.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the core exerciser 10 when viewed fromthe front side which is diametrically opposite to the back view shown inFIG. 1. In this view of the core exerciser 10 the tip ends of the softtubular covers 4 a and 4 b inserted over the handles sections 3 a and 3b of the tubular can be seen. In this view of the core exerciser 10 thesoft rectangular block-shaped pad 7 of the exerciser is placed againstthe abdomen and the handles 3 a and 3 b held down by the soft tubularcovers 4 a and 4 b by the user after placing the tubular frame with thebase plate against a wall, floor, or other immobile surface. The userthen pushes linearly against the wall, floor, or other immobile surfaceto depress the spring 6 and release it while pulling back. The continuedlinear back and forth motion compressing and releasing the spring 6provides the necessary resistance to exercise the core muscles of theabdomen and the pelvic floor.

FIG. 3 is a left side perspective view of the core exerciser 10 of thepresent invention. The bottom end of spring 6 is seen inserted over thedrum-shaped-tube-like structure 5 mounted on the base plate (not seen)of the tubular frame of the core exerciser 10 with the top end of thespring 6 attached to the soft rectangular, block-shaped pad 7. The softtubular cover 4 b is inserted over the left handle 3 b of the tubularframe of the exerciser.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view from the front of the core exerciser 10 ofthe present invention. The spring 6 is seen mounted at the bottom end tothe rectangular base plate 1 with the top end of spring 6 attached tothe soft rectangular block-shaped pad 7. In this embodiment of the coreexerciser 10 the rectangular base plate 1 would be placed against awall, the floor or other immobile surface and the soft rectangularblock-shaped pad 7 placed against the lower abdomen of the user. Theuser would then push down on the handles 3 a and 3 b gripping the softtubular covers 4 a and 4 b and push forward with their abdominal coremuscles to compress the spring 6 and then push back to release thespring 6. The continuous back and forth linear motion of compressing andreleasing the spring 6 using the abdominal core muscles results instrengthening those muscles and those on the pelvic floor.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the core exerciser 10 of the present inventionshowing some of the principal parts such as the base plate 1, thetubular frame sections 2 a and 2 b, the handles 3 a and 3 b with theirsoft tubular covers 4 a and 4 b and the soft rectangular block-shapedpad 7 that is used to place against the lower abdomen.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the spring 6 as it relates to thedrum-shaped tube-like structure 5 attached to the base plate 1 of thecore exerciser and showing the spring adjustment rods 8 a and 8 bpositioned inside the drum-shaped tube-like structure 5. This featureallows the user to extend the rods 8 a and 8 b to shorten the effectivelength of the spring 6 to amplify the resistance needed to compress andrelease the spring 6 to get a better workout and strengthening of thecore muscles.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the core exerciser10 of the present invention while leaning against a wall 9. The user 20is seen with the soft rectangular block-shaped pad of the core exerciser10 positioned to interact with the lower abdomen while pushing forwardagainst the wall 9 compressing the spring in the process. When the user20 moves away from the wall 9 the resistance of the spring is released.The continuous back and forth linear motion results in a corestrengthening exercise of the abdominal and pelvic floor core muscles.

The foregoing description of the core exerciser of the present inventionthrough its figures and preferred embodiments should not be construed tolimit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art can envisionother possible variations, modifications and applications that are alsowithin the scope and spirit of the invention and the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A core strengthening exercise device, comprising:a tubular frame structure member with a substantially rectangular baseplate adapted to rest on an immobile flat surface; said base platehaving a drum-shaped tubular structure member hingedly connected to thetop side of said base plate; a spring structure member inserted over thesaid drum-shaped tubular structure member and hingedly connected to thesaid base plate of the said tubular frame structure member; a pair ofangled handle structure members hingedly connected to the said tubularframe structure member; a pair of soft tubular cover members snuggedlyfitting over the said handle structure members; and a substantiallyrectangular block-shaped soft pad structure member hingedly connected tothe top end of the said spring structure member.
 2. The corestrengthening exercise device of claim 1 wherein the bottom surface ofsubstantially rectangular base plate of the tubular frame structuremember can be placed on the floor, against a wall, or other immobilesurface to provide support to the core strengthening exercise devicewhen exercising to strengthen the core muscles.
 3. The corestrengthening exercise device of claim 1 wherein the substantiallyrectangular block-shaped soft pad structure member is placed around thelower abdomen area of the user when performing the core strengtheningexercises.
 4. The core strengthening exercise of claim 1 wherein theuser holding the handle structure members pushes forward and backwardlinearly against the wall, floor or other immobile surface while havingthe block-shaped soft pad structure member placed around the lowerabdomen area of the user.
 5. The core strengthening exercise device ofclaim 1 wherein the spring structure member provides the resistance tostrengthen the core muscles while the user thrusts forward and backwardwhile performing the core strengthening exercises.
 6. The corestrengthening exercise device of claim 1 wherein the spring structuremember has a pair of rod members that can be adjusted by the user toprovide additional resistance to exercise and strengthen the coremuscles.
 7. The core strengthening exercise device of claim 1 whereinthe device can also be used while lying down or kneeling on the floor.8. The core strengthening exercise device of claim 1 wherein the devicecan be used in tandem by two users locking the base plates together andthrusting back and forth to exercise and strengthen the core muscles inthe abdomen and the pelvic floor area.
 9. The core strengtheningexercise device of claim 1 wherein the tubular frame structure member isconstructed from a sturdy metal or plastic tubing, the spring structuremember constructed from a sturdy metal, and the rectangular block-shapedsoft pad structure member is made of foam or other soft cushioningmaterial.
 10. The core strengthening exercise device of claim 1 whereinthe device is portable and can be taken apart for storage andtransportation and assembled when needed.